WordGarden.iocraggy
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /krˈæɡi/
US
- /ˈkræɡi/
Meanings
Adjective
rough, steep, and full of rocks or crags
rough-featured, rugged, or strongly lined in appearance
Beyond the definition
Think of an old wizard's face – weathered, lined, and full of character. That's craggy. It describes something with a lot of rough bumps and sharp edges—like rocks, mountains, or even someone's features. A craggy coastline isn't smooth sand; it's a line of jagged cliffs meeting the sea. You might describe someone as having a craggy face, meaning they have deep wrinkles and a strong, weathered appearance. It evokes a sense of age, strength, and toughness.
The word often appears in descriptions of landscapes, suggesting wildness and untamed beauty. Think of the craggy peaks of the Himalayas or the craggy cliffs overlooking the ocean. It's not necessarily negative; it can be quite beautiful!
Imagine a mountain range sculpted by centuries of wind and rain. The rock isn't smooth, but broken into sharp angles, jutting out in places, and deeply etched with lines. That is craggy. The word describes something having a rugged, uneven surface covered in bumps and sharp edges – like cliffs, rocks, or even the texture of bark on an old tree.
It comes from crag (a steep, rugged rock or cliff). It's often used in geographical descriptions: "The ship navigated through the craggy channels of the fjord."
But craggy isn't limited to landscapes. You can use it figuratively to describe a person's face – suggesting they have strong features, deep wrinkles earned from a life well-lived. "His face was craggy with age and experience." It implies character, resilience, and perhaps even a hint of wildness.
While not always beautiful in a conventional sense, craggy often evokes a powerful, dramatic aesthetic—a reminder of the forces that shape our world and the stories etched into its surfaces. So next time you see something rough, uneven, and full of character, remember the word craggy.
Examples
- 1
Coastline
We followed a narrow path along the craggy coastline.
- 2
Mountain landscape
The cabin stood beneath craggy peaks that stayed white with snow even in June.
- 3
Facial appearance
Years of wind and sun had given the old fisherman a craggy face.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- craggy cliffs
- craggy mountains
- craggy coastline
- craggy terrain
Word family
- crag
- cragginess
Explore
- rocky outcrop
- escarpment
Forms and spellings
3 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- craggyadjective
Forms
- craggiercomparativeadjective
- craggiestsuperlativeadjective